Georgia will take an ugly win like this any time
Jarvis Jones had a monster game (three sacks, two forced fumbles) to lead Georgia. (Bob Andres/AJC)
Everybody is going to call it ugly. The quarterback was awful for most of the game. The opponent had six fumbles (four lost) and two interceptions. Two of the supposed best teams in the SEC swapped turnovers, penalties and dropped passes. If the late Sid Gillman was watching, he would’ve covered his eyes and screamed, “No! My eyes! My eyes!”
But does it matter?
Ugly is barely beating Kentucky after a bye week. Ugly is looking flawed against Buffalo and Florida Atlantic. Ugly is giving up 44 points to Tennessee. If beating the No. 2 team in the BCS — especially when it’s Florida — is considered ugly, it’s a canvas of ugly that the Bulldogs would wrap themselves in any day or night.
As Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray, he of the three first-half interceptions, said Saturday night, “I know I’m going to get stressed out when I look at the film. But it’s still a great win.”
Georgia, drop-kicked at South Carolina three weeks ago, seemingly comatose in the SEC and again floundering in a season of high hopes, rode ugly back to respectability Saturday. The 17-9 win over Florida put the Bulldogs in control in the SEC East. They need only beat Ole Miss and Auburn to secure a berth in the conference championship — and in the process stomped on all those can’t-win-the-big-one claims.
Malcolm Mitchell danced into the end zone with a big touchdown after Aaron Murray's pass beat the blitz. (Bob Andres/AJC)
The win had historical significance: It was the Dogs’ first time winning in consecutive years against Florida since 1988 and ’89. That’s long ago enough that the coach for that first game was Vince Dooley.
The game also had personal significance for Mark Richt. Battered for doing so poorly against top-10 teams (1-9 since 2008), the Georgia coach stayed on the field long after the game was over, going from one end of the stands to the other, celebrating with fans.
Winning this game last season, some believed, may have helped saved his job. Winning the game this season was even more significant because of the Gators’ stature.
Appropriately, it happened because of
Mark Richt was only 1-9 against top 10 teams since 2008 before Saturday.
defense, in general, and Jarvis Jones, in particular. Jones had three sacks, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. He knocked the ball loose from tight end Jordan Reed at the Dogs’ 18 with five minutes left, as Florida was moving in for a potential touchdown.
Jones’ amusing self-analysis: “I don’t know my stats, but I think I had a good game.”
The defense, whether motivated by external criticism or the internal slap from safety Shawn Williams, who called his team “soft,” had one of its better games of the season. Florida was held without a touchdown in a Georgia win for the first time since 1988.
Jones again: “I think what Shawn Williams did, he challenged us. Obviously we needed it. … Everybody was calling us names, calling us soft. ESPN, everybody on TV. Soft, soft, soft, soft, soft. As a man, you take it personal.”
Here’s a suggestion for Richt: Have one player call everybody a name every week. Couldn’t hurt.
Georgia led only 10-9 when Murray made amends for a mostly horrible night (12-of-24, three interceptions). On a third-and-5 from the Gators’ 45, he dropped back, beat blitzing safety Josh Evans and completing an 8-yard pass to Malcolm Mitchell. The receiver spun away from cornerback Loucheiz Purifoy and then cut across the field and ran to the end zone, giving the Dogs a 17-9 lead with seven minutes left.
The game’s only other touchdown — a 10-yard run by Todd Gurley — came early in the game following a Florida fumble. Of course. Florida had six fumbles (losing four) and six turnovers (Georgia three). The teams combined for six turnovers in the first half. They didn’t need marching bands — just the percussion section with the sounds of crashing cymbals with every bobble and misfire.
The Gators had only four turnovers in their first seven games. Yet quarterback Jeff Driskel fumbled on two of the first three plays of the game (Jones recovering the second). See, it doesn’t matter how ugly one team is if the other is worse.
Linebacker Jordan Jenkins said the team was inspired by a pregame speech by defensive end Cornelius Washington, who touched on all of the expected themes: no respect, big game, rival opponent.
“It was the craziest and wildest he’s ever been,” Jenkins said. “He was talking about how everybody was doubting us. He had us all pumped up and ready to go out there and knock some heads.”
Sometimes, that’s how games are won. The win is all anybody will remember.
By Jeff Schultz
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844 comments Add your comment
phil
October 27th, 2012
11:40 pm
Dawgs now clearly number two in the nation….
World's Largest Outdoor Gator Beating
October 27th, 2012
11:40 pm
Muschamp will never get a statue on the Gator campus like the evil genius did.
DawgNole
October 27th, 2012
11:43 pm
Jimmy
October 27th, 2012
11:24 pm
DawgNole:
I promise you…I’ve had such fun here tonight speaking truth that I will be back.
Sure hope we do win the MNC…I’ll come here just to bother you and your ilk.
Life is too short not to have fun.
______________________
C’mon back, Jimmy. We’ll do it again–especially if we win that MNC.
phil
October 27th, 2012
11:43 pm
Muschump deserves a statue now….lol
Actually, looked like a class move when he grabbed Jarvis for a chat after the game. Muschump is still a dawg deep down inside his yellow, turncoat self…..
OrlDawgCop
October 27th, 2012
11:44 pm
If the kicker made the missed field goal and Murray didn’t throw the picks in the red zone this would’ve been a blow out win…but if a frog had wings. True fans are happy with the win and the results, God Bless these classless pitiful losers who post BS about this game. There were mistakes and penalties that shouldn’t have been made but I’m proud of the Georgia Bulldogs and coaching staff tonight. As for the rest of you whiners complaining about the team your best course of action might be hooking up a hose from your cars tailpipe to the drivers window, turining on the engine, shutting the garage door and drinking a fifth of Mad Dog listening to your Milli Vanilli CD’s because your a sorry excuse for a human being.
Ssidawg
October 27th, 2012
11:44 pm
So so happy happy happy!!!! Way to go Dawgs!!!!!!
DawgNole
October 27th, 2012
11:46 pm
kingdaddy
October 27th, 2012
11:27 pm
Anybody hear from Tamp yet???
______________________
Not yet. I, too, CAN’T WAIT!
World's Largest Outdoor Gator Beating
October 27th, 2012
11:47 pm
Good Night Muschamp.
count the bulldogs in your sleep.
phil
October 27th, 2012
11:50 pm
OrlDawgCop
October 27th, 2012
11:44 pm
If the kicker made the missed field goal and Murray didn’t throw the picks in the red zone this would’ve been a blow out win…but if a frog had wings. True fans are happy with the win and the results, God Bless these classless pitiful losers who post BS about this game. There were mistakes and penalties that shouldn’t have been made but I’m proud of the Georgia Bulldogs and coaching staff tonight. As for the rest of you whiners complaining about the team your best course of action might be hooking up a hose from your cars tailpipe to the drivers window, turining on the engine, shutting the garage door and drinking a fifth of Mad Dog listening to your Milli Vanilli CD’s because your a sorry excuse for a human being.
************
having lost a friend that very way, the sorry excuse for a human being is your idiot self. Get a damn clue before you ever say something so insensitive and cruel again.
AFDawg
October 27th, 2012
11:51 pm
To all the negative posters — all we’ve really wanted this season was for the Dawgs to play with heart, because it makes all the difference in the world. Face it — the Dawgs played with extreme intensity today and were super motivated. Last year’s dominating defense is back. The Dawgs punsihed the Gators physically today. If the Dawgs maintain this level of intensity — this season could end up very special indeed.
phil
October 27th, 2012
11:53 pm
We did crush them physically…..it was too sweet.
But no way we maintain it. We will struggle mightily to beat ole miss, just as we did with UK.
10-2 is a good year! Right?
October 27th, 2012
11:54 pm
@OrlDawgCop,
Yeah, we should off ourselves because we want improvement. We are a disgrace to the human race. If it were up to people like you the human race would have stopped with the discovery of fire and the invention of the wheel.
And who is the real disgrace, wishing others would kill themselves for voicing their opinion. I bet you are going to church tomorrow, too. Right? I hope you say your prayers for that one.
OrlDawgCop
October 27th, 2012
11:55 pm
Phil, Thomas Brown, Jimmy I really really really don’t feel too bad at all for posting that comment. Have a great night and sleep tight with your “hating” of the Dawgs!
DawgNole
October 27th, 2012
11:55 pm
East Alabama Gator
October 27th, 2012
11:30 pm
Congratulations to Georgia and the Bulldog Nation. Regardless of the turnovers, the Bulldogs deserved to win. As bad as I hate it came against my team, congrats to Coach Richt, truly one of the good guys in the game. Maybe the haters will cut him some clack for a change . . . .
______________________
An extremely RARE classy post from a gator fan. Thanks, East Bama.
OrlDawgCop
October 27th, 2012
11:56 pm
Oh let me fix that…Phil, Thomas Brown, Jimmy AND 10-2….you know all the SAME guy.
phil
October 27th, 2012
11:57 pm
OrlDawgCop
October 27th, 2012
11:55 pm
Phil, Thomas Brown, Jimmy I really really really don’t feel too bad at all for posting that comment. Have a great night and sleep tight with your “hating” of the Dawgs!
***********
you’re a fool. No fixing that.
10-2 is a good year! Right?
October 27th, 2012
11:57 pm
I think we can all agree OrlDawgCop is the biggest douchebag to post on here tonight.
DawgNole
October 27th, 2012
11:58 pm
phil
October 27th, 2012
11:53 pm
We did crush them physically…..it was too sweet.
But no way we maintain it. We will struggle mightily to beat ole miss, just as we did with UK.
________________________
Oh you damn realist you!
phil
October 27th, 2012
11:59 pm
Guess again on that same guy crap…..
Assuming you are a cop, i feel for the good citizens of orlando.
phil
October 28th, 2012
12:00 am
I know.
But we probably will.
Timmy
October 28th, 2012
12:01 am
Tonight is about the W!!! It’s a long time coming. The score? It doesn’t matter what the score is … UGA came out on top and that’s all that matter tonight … Go Dawgs!!!
World's Largest Outdoor Gator Beating
October 28th, 2012
12:01 am
GEORGIA 62
Ole Miss 9
World's Largest Outdoor Gator Beating
October 28th, 2012
12:02 am
GEORGIA 72
Auburn 3
World's Largest Outdoor Gator Beating
October 28th, 2012
12:03 am
MIZZOU 24
Florida 12
phil
October 28th, 2012
12:03 am
Why am i awake?
Keep it Real
October 28th, 2012
12:04 am
New BCS rankings: 1 Alabama
2 Kansas St.
3 Notre Dame
4 Oregon
5 LSU
6 Dawgs ( move into top 5 after Bama beats LSU next week)
DawgNole
October 28th, 2012
12:04 am
10-2 is a good year! Right?
October 27th, 2012
11:57 pm
I think we can all agree OrlDawgCop is the biggest douchebag to post on here tonight.
________________
Yeah, but that’s only because Thomas Brown hasn’t made his appearance yet. He’ll absolutely blow OrlDawgCop away with his lies and distortions.
World's Largest Outdoor Gator Beating
October 28th, 2012
12:05 am
Wofford 17
South Carolina 6
phil
October 28th, 2012
12:05 am
It’s not about the W…..
We didn’t win by enough.
Fire Mark Richt!!
DawgNole
October 28th, 2012
12:07 am
phil
October 28th, 2012
12:03 am
Why am i awake?
___________________
Cause them Dawgs won and you’re wired!
Well, that’s my excuse, and I’m sticking to it.
World's Largest Outdoor Gator Beating
October 28th, 2012
12:07 am
Bulldogs force six turnovers,
upset # 2 Gators second year in a row.
DawgNole
October 28th, 2012
12:09 am
World’s Largest Outdoor Gator Beating
October 28th, 2012
12:05 am
Wofford 17
South Carolina 6
_____________________
And I thought I was drinking.
World's Largest Outdoor Gator Beating
October 28th, 2012
12:09 am
Bulldogs offense comes alive in the fourth quarter,
Gators retreat.
phil
October 28th, 2012
12:09 am
Wired has worn off….
Time to morph into Thomas Brown….lol
phil
October 28th, 2012
12:10 am
Fire Paul Goodloe!!
Nite all.
World's Largest Outdoor Gator Beating
October 28th, 2012
12:10 am
Florida’s passing game falls flat against Georgia
Pulpwood Smith
October 28th, 2012
12:10 am
I am embarrassed for you Georgia fans who complain no matter what happens. Georgia loses and it’s the end of the world. Georgia wins and this was wrong and that was wrong and so-and-so did this wrong. I honestly feel sorry for people like you. Obviously, I don’t know what has made the rest of your lives so miserable but it has certainly spilled over to the point where your team beats the number two ranked team in the nation, the Florida Gators none-the-less, and you are seemingly suicidal. Simply pathetic. I’ve sat beside or near people like you at games over the years and, trust me, you are miserable excuses for human beings. I remember back in the early 80’s when Herschel was at UGA and he’d only get 5 yards a carry and people around me were literally bitching and asking what was wrong. Now it’s 30 years later and you are blogging on the internet with your same negative crap. Please keep your negative BS to yourself. UGA is not Alabama but they’re a good program. Be happy with the success your program is providing you rather than spewing your negative venom which only serves to prove the inadequacies you feel about yourself. You are pathetic.
pb
October 28th, 2012
12:11 am
I don’t know who or what that Orlando Dawg cop is, but he is disgusting iand should be banned from being on here. telling people to do themselves in because he doesn’t agree with them? Sick!
tittiboi21
October 28th, 2012
12:12 am
Bunch of idiots on here. Bobo always catches the blame but the offense has won most of the games this year. Gruden even said Bobo was very underrated so get off Bobo. O Line played good tonight and so did Gurley. Murray had a terrible game plain and simple but the defense showed up mainly the kid from my hometown yall know as Jarvis. The best player in college football. How is Florida not good? Look at the resume. Yea UGA has a chance against bama but Murray has to be more patient. If your gonna talk on here dont talk out your ass
Timmy
October 28th, 2012
12:12 am
Screw any haters … Russ is a damn good dog .. I don’t care if it he some spots on him … he is a damn good dog!!!
GTBob
October 28th, 2012
12:12 am
With the way Florida played today, im pretty sure any team in the top 50 would have beaten them. It might be the worst performance I have ever seen by a top 5 team. How UGA did not win by much more then they did is a mystery.
World's Largest Outdoor Gator Beating
October 28th, 2012
12:12 am
Muschamp said you gotta give them Bulldogs credit
and the Gators need to regroup on Monday
phil
October 28th, 2012
12:13 am
Pulpwood – back to your cell. Visiting hours are over.
You are the moron. Not us.
World's Largest Outdoor Gator Beating
October 28th, 2012
12:14 am
Shawn Williams WILL SLEEP SOFT TONIGHT
ARdawg
October 28th, 2012
12:16 am
GTBob
You will say anything as long as you do not give Georgia accolades won’t you? You are pathetic Bob. How was that BYU game tonight? Like that did you?
World's Largest Outdoor Gator Beating
October 28th, 2012
12:17 am
Over confident Florida is upset after huge loss.
GTBob
October 28th, 2012
12:19 am
You will say anything as long as you do not give Georgia accolades won’t you?
Sorry, I can’t give them accolades when the only reason they won was because Florida pretty much gave them the game. UGA didn’t even play moderately well in the game. It was like watching two 1st graders slap each other.
World's Largest Outdoor Gator Beating
October 28th, 2012
12:20 am
Georgia manhandles Florida
david
October 28th, 2012
12:20 am
Don’t care how we beat them Gators. A win is a win, and I will take the W anytime against those guys. UGA has been snake bit in the past against UF, so just enjoy the W people.
DawgNole
October 28th, 2012
12:20 am
Thomas Brown
October 27th, 2012
7:51 pm
Maybe Florida can get to their 3 or 4 Loss season, yet; still holding out hope for that.
______________________
Don’t go changin’ it, Thomas, you weasel! You know damn well you predicted “four or five losses in 2012″ for the gators, you lying slimeball. Want me to go find that post for you and all the rest of the bloggers who are sick of your garbage?